Taxus brevifolia
Pacific yew
Taxus brevifolia, commonly known as the shortleaf yew, is a resilient evergreen conifer native to the rugged landscapes of North America. Renowned for its dense, needle-like foliage and decorative potential, this species belongs to the Taxaceae family, carrying both botanical significance and complex phytochemical properties within its tissues.
- Scientific name: Taxus brevifolia
- Family: Taxaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Pinidae. Within the order Pinales, it is classified under the family Taxaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Taxus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Pinidae | WCVP |
| Order | Pinales | WCVP |
| Family | Taxaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Taxus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Taxus brevifolia, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In French, it is called If de l'Ouest, while in Chinese, it is known as 短叶红豆杉. German speakers call it Pazifiische Eibe, and in Azerbaijani, it is identified as Qısayarpaq qaraçöhrə. Additionally, in Polish, the species is commonly known as Cis krótkolistny.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| fr | If de l'Ouest | Wikidata |
| zh | 短叶红豆杉 | Wikidata |
| de | Pazifische Eibe | Wikidata |
| az | Qısayarpaq qaraçöhrə | Wikidata |
| pl | Cis krótkolistny | Wikidata |
| nb | Stillehavsbarlind | Wikidata |
| ar | طقسوس قصير الأوراق | Wikidata |
| ru | Тис коротколистный | Wikidata |
| bg | тихоокеански тис | Wikidata |
| et | Lühiokkaline jugapuu | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across the northern reaches of western North America. In the subarctic region of America, its presence can be found within Alaska. Moving south, it inhabits parts of Western Canada, specifically within the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. The species also extends into the Northwestern United States, covering areas such as Idaho. Finally, its geographical range includes the mountainous terrain of Montana.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Subarctic America | Alaska | WCVP |
| Western Canada | Alberta | WCVP |
| Western Canada | British Columbia | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Idaho | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Montana | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Oregon | WCVP |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Washington | WCVP |
| Southwestern U.S.A. | California | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Taxus brevifolia, is characterized by several distinct morphological features used in botanical study. The most prominent feature is its foliage, which consists of dark green needles that grow in a spiral arrangement along the stems. Each individual needle is typically linear and relatively short compared to other yew species, functioning as the primary photosynthetic leaf structure. Beyond the greenery, the bark of the tree is generally smooth and greyish, providing a protective layer for the woody stem. Furthermore, while the fleshy red arils are often noted, the seed contained within is highly toxic and must be handled with extreme caution in medicinal or scientific contexts.- Total parts
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 9
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| bark | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| seed | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| needles | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| needle | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inner bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fleshy part of fruit | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Taxus brevifolia has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 37 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include paclitaxel, taxol, Taxol, taxanes, Paclitaxel.
- Total chemicals
- 18
- Scientific sources
- 37
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| paclitaxel | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| taxol | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Taxol | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| taxanes | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Paclitaxel | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cephalomannine | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| taxa-4(5),11(12)-diene | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 10-deacetyl taxol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 10-deacetyl taxol-C | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 10-deacetylbaccatin III | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Taxus brevifolia has 2 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antineoplastic.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anticancer | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Antineoplastic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Taxus brevifolia has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include ovarian cancer, breast cancer, cancer, lung cancer, malignant melanoma.
- Total uses
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 17
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ovarian cancer | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| breast cancer | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| lung cancer | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| malignant melanoma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| melanoma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| non-small cell lung cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |